"It seems that you still want to dance but... You will not be able to make steps anymore."
Madara Uchiha
Madara stepped in stride with the damiyo. The damiyo was several paces ahead of Izuna and Mikito who decided to walk slower. Mikito was never going to speed things up for the damiyo or go along with his games, if Madara was so eager to hear what he had to say then so be it. Izuna hung back for other reasons, one being he was never a fast walker and rather took his time compared to Madara who thought he was in a foot race. There was also his curiosity of Mikito's and his brother's interactions since they were sharing a room and Madara could be... Hard to deal with at times, and there was the obvious question to him anyways. There was also Yuko, who he couldn't help but ponder on.
"It is most splendid news!" The damiyo was saying in a jovial tone, waving his hands towards Madara. "You will be most satisfied I assure you Madara-san."
"We will see." Madara said. He was not just going to take his word for it. "I am interested in whatever this splendid news is."
Mikito could only shake her head, forcing back a sigh. Madara was a mystery to her before, but now she was certain she knew a few things about him-traits was perhaps a better word.
One and most prominent he was extremely arrogant-to be more accurate he had a god complex and nobody could hope to touch him-obviously he had the skills and prowess to back up that arrogance, but it was rather annoying dealing with that massive head of his. The second thing. He was emotional-not in the crying sense, but he was prone to anger and had a nasty temper that followed with outbursts. But, and maybe she was hallucinating but he was a kind man, rough around the edges, but still kind.
Again she could just be hallucinating.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mikito-san?" Izuna questioned, rousing her from her thoughts. She turned to look at him, seeing his lips upturned slightly that let her know he had been watching the entire time. Izuna grinned, waving his hand nonchalantly as she gave him a critical stare. "I can see you're in deep thought about something."
"It's nothing." She said softly. Nothing that needed to be pinpointed at the moment, it could wait until a later time.
"Is it about my brother?" Izuna whispered back, nudging her shoulder with his elbow.
"What would ever give you that idea?" She asked, careful to keep her voice down. She looked at Izuna with slight shock and apprehension. She didn't want to say he was reading into her before, but she now had the feeling he indeed was doing just that. Now, she could see why Madara had such a hard time with him.
"So it is!" Izuna beamed.
"Izuna, what are you doing?" Madara's stern voice immediately caused the younger Uchiha to put up an emotionless facial expression. No way was he going to let Madara find out about his conversation with Mikito. He was simply doing what was best for his clan and Mikito's whether she or Madara knew it or didn't, wasn't of high importance. He knew and that's all that mattered. "Stop your babbling with Mikito."
Izuna rolled his eyes. "Sure thing."
"Mikito." Madara looked directly at her, staring into those big eyes. "I apologize for my dear brother's behavior and lack of control with what comes out of his mouth. I'll need you to look passed that for the moment, the damiyo has splendid news." He turned away from her.
"So I've heard..." Mikito scowled, splendid news usually meant dreadful news when it came to this damiyo. And, she was certain that crafty snake was pulling some scheme out of his sleeve. "Is he getting another spire on this estate?"
"Your satire is noted." Madara said, opening the door to the damiyo's personal chambers where he was waiting for them. "I'm interested in whatever news this is, Izuna you be quiet I don't want to hear another peep out of you." He fixed his brother with a stern glare, he took note of Mikito's slightly flustered appearance when he turned around; Izuna was doing or saying something to fluster her so.
"That's mean!" Mikito protested. "Izuna-"
"It's okay Mikito-san." Izuna waved off her concern striding passed her, and then striding passed Madara. "Let's see how this all goes shall we?" He entered the room leaving Madara and Mikito outside in the hallway staring at each other. Madara was agitated and confused-though the confusion faded after a moment. Mikito was bemused at best, not at all sure why Izuna was so chipper about this entire thing.
"Why is he so happy about this?" Mikito asked, blinking at Madara.
"I couldn't begin to tell you." Madara sighed, pinching his nose. If he kept track of Izuna's antics he'd have no time to tend to more important things. "Do your best to ignore him, I know he can be a bit distracting. However, there are more important things at hand besides my brother's shenanigans."
Mikito simply nodded holding back a laugh. Shenanigans that was a funny way to put Izuna's behavior.
Madara shut the door as Mikito entered at a turtle pace taking a seat in front of the damiyo. He turned his focus to Izuna who stood off to the side looking at nothing in particular, Madara shrugged slightly well at least he was quiet for a change. He turned his one visible on the damiyo, who was busy pouring them each a cup of sake-Izuna included, this was a pleasant idea at all, but he wasn't going to argue against. "Sake." The damiyo said to them as he offered them the saucer cups, Izuna took his with a smile bowing his head slightly.
"Of course." Izuna said in a chipper tone.
The damiyo smiled in kind, nodded, and leaned his head back gulping down the sweet and hot alcohol setting his saucer cup down. Madara drank his at a much more easy pace not chugging it down like the damiyo did, Mikito sipped it once very gingerly getting a good taste, and then with no hesitation brought her head back chugging the rest of it with surprising speed. Izuna had his saucer cup back on the desk before the two leaders could finish their drink. "Let's have another!" Izuna proposed with a grin.
"No." Madara said with a firm tone. "Onto business, what is this splendid news?" He ignored Izuna's long and drawn out groan. It wasn't Izuna drinking time, this was supposed to be a talk of news. Splendid news at that, hopefully he'd be out and on the battlefield! All of this waiting around just wasn't his style and quite frankly he didn't like it all that much.
"I'm curious." Mikito said with a shrug.
"Izuna-san we will drink more after." The damiyo told him with an easy smile. So far he had been around Mikito, Madara, and Izuna for the better half of three maybe more days and already deduced the three of them. Mikito he was already weary and afraid of, though that didn't stop him from being jovial and pressing several of her buttons. Madara was all business and he couldn't shake the shiver of fear that rippled through him when he locked eyes with the spiky haired man. And, lastly but not least, Izuna. Izuna was more laidback and took things in stride, and had no qualms about indulging in the many assets the damiyo had at their services. "Madara-san is correct we are here to talk on business, but some sake doesn't hurt to move things along..." He cleared his throat. "I've recently been informed that the famous Senju and Subatsu brothers have been stationed in a nearby village. Hashirama, Tobirama, Syrus, and Haji."
Madara visibly tensed as the mention of his former friend-his rival. His mortal enemy. He composed himself barely, folding his arms over his chest breathing briskly. If this were true and indeed the case he was leaving as soon as this little meeting was finished.
"And, you are certain?" Izuna asked with a hard gaze, he too tensed for a moment hearing the name of the white haired Senju. "Making a false claim with the weight this one carries..."
"Do you have any proof?" Mikito got right to the point. If that were the case, and Syrus was close by it was only a matter of time before they'd meet on the battlefield, and judging from Madara's and Izuna's tense and ready postures their meeting with the Senju Brothers was nearing very, very close. Mikito folded her arms over her chest, taking a deep breath. "Do you?"
"Of course." The damiyo nodded.
"Show me it, now." Madara told him. The damiyo nodded quickly before he even thought of what to do next, that hard look Madara gave him made his blood run cold with ice. It was a map of the current world-he made sure to keep them up to date since they were changing on the daily basis he could never get left behind in the current state of the world. It allowed him to pick and choose which clans he'd pay to do his biding or task, and other ones to stay away from, most notably the Kagyua. He handed the map over to Madara, who took it his one eye boring into it intently.
"To further credibility of my statement. There were movements from both the Hageshii and Shainingu to the nearest village." The damiyo continued to explain while Madara studied the map nodding just barely. He turned his focus on Mikito who was sending him a glare-it looked like a glare and it made him shiver for a moment, lastly Izuna kept up the same hard look as before silently telling him to continue. Such a fine woman, it's a shame she hates me so much... The damiyo inwardly lamented. "It is quite a surprise since Tunoichi and Tomyouki-leader and second in command of the Shainingu refused any and all proposals of meeting for a truce before. I knew there had to be something different that would sway one or both of them into at least hearing it out." He upturned his lips. "And, then I come to find out that Syrus, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Haji are all present nearby. It wasn't a coincidence by any stretch."
Izuna nodded making a gentle hum of agreement. "I'd have to agree it isn't a coincidence." The fact Tunoichi was even willing to step foot in the village to speak of a truce-the word made him laugh-meant that someone or people far more powerful than they were must have been taking the helm of their confrontations with the Hageshii at that moment in time at least, evidently the Shainingu didn't agree and the fighting would continue, thus bringing their mission to fruition. There has to be some irony to this... Izuna thought, bemused.
"That's still not enough..." Mikito said after staying silent for several minutes. Even if the Senju brothers and her rival-mortal enemy Syrus was close by it was still hard to grasp. For starters Haji usually never left the compound for any reasons aside from a mission, even more so Usagi had to have been close by she never strayed far from her brothers. There was also the fact they had a mission to complete, and be it as it may that it aggravated her to the ends of the earth and back dealing with this damiyo and his antics, she had her pride!
"I think it's more than enough." Madara interjected, setting the map down with a dark look in his eyes. "The Senju are close, this map shows that they have been moving within the three hundred miles radius of this area and its surroundings." Madara spoke bluntly but with a certain elegance and intelligence; he had no doubts that the Senju and Subatsu were close by, that much he himself already deduced and came to the conclusion. "We'll set out in the morning for battle."
"Madara we can't!" Mikito pressed shooting him a weary but hard expression. "Hikaku-san and Mitsuki-san have already left-they're our two swiftest comrades."
"It'll be okay." Izuna said with a soft smile. "Shin-san is talented and will be a great asset. While Hikaku-san and Mitsuki-san are out collecting information we'll hold down the fort and gauge the strength of the Senju and Subatsu."
"Still..." Mikito didn't want to budge on the matter.
"I understand your concern, my dear Mikito-san." The damiyo spoke up with a fleeting smile, looking directly at her. She really was a beautiful woman, he couldn't and will never be able to guess why she was called a witch. At the mentioning of her name-the word that came before her name was stated, Mikito faced the damiyo directly with a venomous glare that if looks could kill-he would have been dead the minute she turned her sights on him.
"It has been a very long time since that happened..." He smirked slightly watching her jerk violently-it was enough to catch Madara's and Izuna's attention. "I'm sure it won't turn out like that time with your... Siblings... And..." He held back a laugh. "Gentatsu..."
Mikito felt like she was smacked by a boulder-pure rage and fury boiled through her veins as hot and molten as her chakra. Her muscles tensed, her heart raced, she could feel her reason starting to slip. "How dare you!" She all but screamed, the arms of her chair shattering as easily as glass, her fists clenched nails digging into her hand until beads of blood dripped freely, slowly the room began to shake picking up in volume rapidly. "You filthy fucking swine! I'll rip your tongue out!" She shrieked, lunging at him fist braced to knock his head clean off his shoulders, but before she could make contact Madara swooped in behind her pulling her into a full nelson.
"Let go!" Mikito growled, shooting him a deadly glare, her teeth grit and eyes blazing with so much emotion it surprised even him. However, as surprised as he was he wasn't stupid and tightened his grip on her as she thrashed against him like a savage animal shouting a thesaurus of obscene comments and names, kicking at his shins when he pinned her arms completely. "Izuna!" Madara snapped at his younger brother. Izuna cut the distance between them grabbing Mikito by the waist careful of her long legs that could strike out at his groin. "Get her out of here, now!" Madara ordered as Izuna picked her up by the waist hefting her on one shoulder and took quick strides out of the room.
"Mikito-san! Calm down!" Izuna pressed out in the hall, sounding more than a bit weary. Damn it she wears that weighted clothing too... This feels even heavier!
"Let me go!"
Madara grunted once the two were out of the estate and back outside far away from the damiyo. Well, he could say Mikito surprised him with that out burst-the woman who kept composure and calm even when she wanted to lash out. Him pinning her to the wall and questioning her strength was a sure fire way to make her lash out, but this damiyo did something entirely different. At first glance he was doing what he himself did, just riling Mikito up, pissing her off, but Madara wasn't a fool by any means he was the farthest thing from stupid. The damiyo attacked her on an emotional level-never before had he seen an explosion of such emotion and fury, it was intoxicating, it caught him off guard, whatever the damiyo said hit a nerve in Mikito he wasn't capable of hitting.
"Listen to me very carefully." Madara grated out his clenched teeth-he was angry at him, angry for pissing Mikito off, angry for ruffling her feathers, more importantly angry because he cut the meeting, the damiyo looked at him slowly pressing his back into his chair. "I don't know what went on in the past between you two, or what the significance is what you said. But, don't you dare speak another word to Mikito, this is your only warning." Madara narrowed his eyes, letting some of his chakra leak out causing the room to vibrate for a few moments. "We're here on business not for your amusement, do not get in our way."
"Are you threatening me!?" The damiyo asked glaring daggers at Madara.
"I don't make threats..." Madara said, making his way towards the door, opening it swiftly. "You've been warned..." And with his last piece spoken he shut the door. Madara trudged through the hallways grunting in annoyance, he couldn't hear Mikito shrieking or Izuna pleading with her to calm down, that was a plus at least he didn't want to face or deal with her wrath. But, now he had to get his mind focused on his opponent, Hashirama. First though he had to make sure Mikito was calm and not about to destroy everything in a five mile radius. "She is not what she seems..." He murmured to himself, rubbing his chin. "There's something she isn't telling me... I have to find out what that is." He was naturally curious before, but now he had to know just who was Mikito. She was calm and composed one second and the next she was like a savage animal. And, he did enjoy a challenge and Mikito was a giant one.
Izuna let go of Mikito once they got out of the estate, choosing a desolate street-it was getting late and innkeepers as well as bar owners were lighting the lanterns leaving a steady trail around the entire village. It was tranquil, if only Mikito would calm down, but as he reasoned with her to relax it only seemed to make her more angry. "Mikito-san please..." Izuna held back a groan, not wishing to be rude towards her, but it was getting exhausting keeping her at bay. "Calm down."
Mikito bit her bottom lip holding back a scream, and took a few deep breaths turning away from Izuna. She lost control for a moment there-all she could feel was hatred and the need to kill the damiyo to have him wailing in agony at her feet. She had a lapse but it was more than understandable, she tried to move on from past experiences but that was one thing she couldn't let go, or forget. If it wasn't for Madara she would have had the damiyo's head in the Earth country, his estate would be a smoldering and burning crater, and more than certain Madara would give her a tongue lashing. Slowly she reigned in her emotions, pushing the memories to the deepest part of her mind.
"Better?" Izuna asked. Whatever made Mikito snap was deeply suppressed, something she tried her best to forget but couldn't. That could only be a few things, and all of them were best not mentioned. Whoever this Gentatsu was it was clear he had a place in Mikito's heart-something horrible happened in the past. At the mere mention of it she flew into a rage. Damn that damiyo... Izuna scowled.
"I apologize..." Mikito whispered, smoothing out the wrinkles on her sleeves. "I normally don't snap like that..."
"No need to be sorry." Izuna waved his hand nonchalantly. He could see Mikito was struggling internally. It was best to let her calm herself down and not smother her on what she did wrong or asking her what happened in the past. "Whatever happened... Back then, I don't know. But, the damiyo shouldn't have been so bold to bring it into the conversation it had no place." He slowly rested his arm on her shoulder, almost flinching back. Wow... She is tense beyond belief... "You won't be hearing from the damiyo again. Madara will see to it."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because, Madara isn't happy with the turn of events."
"Why would Madara care about my feelings?"
Izuna hummed softly slowly walking away from her. "Izuna, answer me!"
Before Mikito could fuss over his rather cryptic statement and Izuna could spring her curiosity with another cryptic statement a familiar voice shot through the air. "Mikito! Izuna!" Madara walked towards them much faster than his usual pace. He stopped a few inches from Mikito looking at her carefully. "You are calm now, correct?" He was admittedly a bit weary.
"I'm calm..." Mikito nodded. "Go on with what you have to say, Madara."
"I am glad to hear that." Madara looked very pleased as he nodded his head his lips turning upward in a smirk. "We will go to battle tomorrow, understood?" Mikito simply nodded in agreement. Madara turned his head towards Izuna who shoulders were shaking slightly. "Would you care to explain to me my dear brother, what is it that you find so amusing?"
"Nothing, nothing." Izuna cleared his throat, turning to face them with a calm expression. "Just looking forward to seeing some action finally."
"Hn..." Madara nodded. "I was getting restless myself."
Daji was in a mild sprint, not running as fast as he could, but he still wasn't moving at a leisure pace. He easily navigated through the thick brushes. Where they were presently was still widely dense forests, another two miles or so they'd be in the barren mountain ranges. Usagi was sprinting her short stature making it impossible to keep up with him otherwise, Tsugi and Ryoku flanked her from the sides Ryoku staying a few paces ahead leaping from branch to branch.
They were traveling for a good three hours now maybe four and it seemed they weren't getting any closer. Daji continued his run, locked onto the scent. Tsugi was rather curious but whenever he asked Daji would ignore or tell him to shut up. It didn't satisfy the older man but he wasn't going to argue. Usagi was smart enough to stay silent through their journey, Daji had a bad attitude at times and was short tempered.
Then, Daji ran twice as fast than before, almost leaving Usagi in the dust almost, but she put on another burst of speed keeping in stride with white coated wolf. "It's close!" Daji informed, keeping his focus forward. He grunted as he caught the sight of a mountain range coming over the horizon-but even closer was an array of caves, but there was a giant one. That's where the scent was the most concentrated. He dug his padded paws into the ground, skidding to a halt as he strolled over to the entrance, sniffing the outer lining of it.
"So what's the word?" Tsugi asked, strolling up behind him giving the cave a critical look. "Is she in there or what?"
"Would you shut up!" Daji growled, resisting the urge to snap his head back and bare his canines.
"Say goodbye to one steak."
"Brat!" Daji snarled, Usagi ran over bracing for what was to come next. 'Tell that pervert to clamp his trap."
"Tsugi..." Usagi sighed looking at him, the older man sneered at Daji. He did enjoy pissing him off, that's what he got for speaking so flippantly towards him and distracting him before.
"I got it..." He strolled away, leaning against a rock wall.
Usagi took a few steps forward, looking around at the interior. "The top is pretty high." She said.
Daji snorted. Holding back a cough as he smelt something too familiar way too soon. "Agh! It's that damned putrid shit!" He stepped away from the strong fumes, reaching out with his front paw, and with one swipe knocked down a dirt wall. There was a ragged piece of fabric clinging onto a chunk of packed dirt and rock. Usagi gave the fabric a curious look snatching it from the wall. It was dirty and stained-must have been there for at least a month or two judging from the build up of grime. Usagi kneaded a small amount of her chakra, casting her senses into and around the cave-to a great surprise or no surprise at all there wasn't anyone in the cave.
"Cho, that tanuki..." Tsugi spat, scowling. "I'm going to snap his neck."
Ryoku had a dark expression on his face as he stared at the fabric in Usagi's hand. Noting that it was similar to the yukatas the damiyo was tossing about. "Tell me..." He looked off into the distance. "That Cho and those mutts have Hitomi."
Usagi scowled, she didn't need to say it. All of them knew that was the case. Daji snarled leering at Usagi. "Brat! I swear!"
"Heh..." Ryoku chuckled, and Daji turned his ghastly eyes onto him next growling lowly. Ignoring the growl Ryoku continued. "This makes things all the easier, they're all grouped together. We know where their compound is roughly, they saved us the trouble."
"Except..." Tsugi sighed. "They have Hitomi, and it's not likely she's still alive."
"There's a chance." Usagi spoke up. "She belongs to a powerful and wealthy family, Cho is a savage, but he isn't brain dead-"
"I second that." Ryoku said.
"Shut up!" Daji snapped, wanting to hear what Usagi had to say at the moment. Truth be told he was ready to take a piece out of her ass, but he'd refrain for now, maybe there was some solace to all this. "Go on, brat."
"Cho isn't brain dead. He'd hold her for ransom, pressure her family into buying her freedom." Usagi rubbed her chin with a thoughtful expression. Slowly a smirk came onto her face. "I think it's time we pay a visit, let Cho know we haven't been idle."
Hesui was considered many things. Talented, powerful, and swift. Among his kinsmen he was known to be the goofy more upbeat one, he didn't let things get him down and was always looking forward. His reasoning was that if he let every single thing boggle him down he'd be living in a state of depression and constantly lamenting about everything-even the mundane.
Toka was a prodigy child, her talents and skills were so immense she was allowed to fight alongside the men of the Senju. It was one of the many things she was fond of, many clans didn't allow the women to fight even if they were talented. Hashirama changed that-he left no stone unturned, every wrong he tried to right, like allowing women to fight. He found there was and never had to be such a limitation placed. If they were as skilled and talented as the men-or even more talented that gave them the right to fight alongside of them. Toka was quiet and perceptive, she smiled softly and spoke softer.
Perhaps it was this that naturally drew the two together. It was brash to say it was love, but Hesui and Toa admired each other's skills as well as demeanors.
"You still sure about this?" Hesui asked, crouching in some bushes. "I'm all for it, but you said Tobirama-san may be furious."
"He would be if we just went out and didn't come back with anything." Toka smiled slightly, gently brushing her long bangs from in front of her eye. "We'll be going back with valuable information Hesui-san, besides..."
"Besides?"
"I find you to be most... Fascinating."
"Never heard that one before." Hesui chuckled, scratching the back of his shaggy head with a small grin. Toka smiled at him, finding some amusement in the way he stated it. Putting their conversation on hold they went back to observing the borders of the Grass village. Toka mentioned she had a hunch while he was looking for her-he wasn't sure why he was, but his timing was perfect. She explained that there was a unit of Uchiha near the Grass village, it would be a simple task, interrogate them for information, if they refused they'd die, and if they fought they'd die.
"There..." Toka whispered, coiling her body under the thick brush provided. Her eyes set in front of her as she caught the sight of a few Uchiha and several others wearing dark blue or purple haoris-those she didn't recognize, but Hesui did evidently. Then, she caught the sight of long and spiky hair a pool of crimson glowing from one eye. "Madara Uchiha..." She narrowed her eyes. "Hesui-san, you know that woman?"
"Mikito..." The man whispered, his posture tense and ready. "I need to inform Syrus-sama right away, he is gong to want to know this."
"But, what about more information?" Toka questioned.
"I'd say we have everything we need." Hesui told her. "Better to head back now, Mikito is a perceptive and intuitive one."
"Guess you have a point." Toka conceded. "Let's go back."
The compound of the Inuzuka-more importantly Cho's compound was a steel fort. The gates were huge and took up several hundred feet. The insides was designed with organization in mind everything wasn't in a grid format but more of a swirl. Every place lead to the next, it would be difficult to navigate at first but after a few hours one would memorize it. The compound itself spread out for a few hundred miles perfectly secluded in a thick patch of forest dotted with small mountains around the perimeter. The mountains kept other clans away and the natural predators tended to stay on top of the mountains rather than scaling down.
His compound in particular was well fortified. Being the only one for several hundred miles, a high number of Inuzuka resided here numbering around three hundred. His clan's inner workings were complicated-one could argue chaotic. Like several other packs he was usually at odds with another one-what was the norm for one was different for another.
"Took some time, but I got that bitch." Cho said to himself, exhaling a smooth stream of smoke, flicking his cigarette away. Finding Hitomi was a bit of a pain, but with his ninken's and his own keen sense of smell tracking her to a secluded cave wasn't much trouble. But, now the rebellious princess was confined to his compound with no way to escape.
Cho smirked with delight, his eyes turning to a small building that was acting as a makeshift confinement for Hitomi. For a shinobi it wouldn't even serve as an obstacle, but for Hitomi who wasn't trained in the shinobi arts it was perfect. Admittedly tracking down Hitomi was a bit of an issue, between the damiyo's personal army constantly stepping in their way to her clearing a good distance in a short amount of time.
But, now she was captured. The bratty princess was in his clutches, just as he planned she would be. Haji may have won the battle back then, but he didn't win the war, and now Cho had the ultimate prize. He could do anything he wanted now-he could hold her for ransom and demand an impossible amount of money, could kill her right now, or he could have his way with her. The last idea and first were the most pleasing for him, to see Haji's face after he took his woman would be priceless.
Cho was brought out of his thoughts by one of his subordinates. His 'pack' roughly consisted of about one thousand strong-it wasn't the biggest pack, but was by no means the smallest. His clan was a bit unorthodox, as he was the leader of this pack. Another leader seventy some miles away didn't like Cho, and Cho didn't like him whatsoever, their rankings and organization were like no other clan. One man about twenty nine in age with a gruff and stern appearance looked down at him with a tray of food in his hand. "Cho-sama, that woman is rather troublesome..."
"What is it?" Cho asked, frowning. "Is she refusing to eat?"
"She is." The man said, looking rather annoyed. It'd be easier to kill the mouthy little wench than putting up with her antics and filthy mouth. If it wasn't for Cho's orders he'd have Hitomi dead and hanging by a tree. To his relief Cho took the tray from him, giving him a quiet dismiss which he took happily. Cho grunted as he trudged his way towards the small building, opening the door.
Hitomi sat behind thick wooden bars all of them elaborately sculpted to make sure no one could worm their way out of it. Her usually clean and tidy hair was messy and splayed all over the place reaching down to her waist, her velvet skin was stained and dirtied, her immaculate yukata was torn at her shoulders exposing her neck. Her lips were dry and chapped, her throat begging for water, but her eyes still burned with same anger they had when he got his hands around her skinny neck. "I've been told you're not accepting your meals."
"What about it!?" Hitomi snapped from her prison, slamming a slender hand against the wood. "I'll tell you just like I told him! Screw off!" She huffed angrily, folding her arms under her chest glaring at him. "Why are you doing this!?"
"Careful princess you might get a sliver." Cho said mockingly, walking towards her prison, setting the tray of food down at his feet. He chuckled as Hitomi punched the wooden bars, grunting in pain as some skin peeled from her knuckles. "You can hit that until there's no skin left on your hands. You're not going to escape." He grinned with malice as he inched closer to her face. "You ask why am I doing this? Why do people do what they do? Fame, reputation, money, respect..." He licked his lips. "For the sheer pleasure of it."
Hitomi stepped away slightly alarmed, shivering in disgust watching that long tongue trail over his canines. It was nasty, Cho was nasty! "Like you care about my well being anyways." Hitomi sneered at Cho, he could play the part but she wasn't a fool. "Wouldn't it make more sense for you to go after a shinobi and not a pompous noble like me?" She questioned heatedly. If it was a reputation Cho was after all he had to was kill two hundred men in one go, as for respect he wasn't going to get a lick of her respect!
Cho barked in laughter, reaching down a taking hold of a rice ball. "You see pompous bitch, normally you'd be correct." He brought his arm up to his side, clenching the piece of food a bit tighter. "However, you couldn't be more wrong than you are now at this moment." He got inches close to her face, reaching his free hand through one of the narrow holes closing it around her throat. Taking satisfaction in the fear that flashed through her eyes he squeezed a bit tighter, barely feeling her clawing at his wrist. "You are wrong because while you belong to a wealthy and powerful family, that means little to me. Haji..." He growled, Hitomi gasped for air, her head snapping back. "That son of a bitch protected you, walked around with you. Imagine my reputation when everyone hears how I took his woman right under his nose!"
Hitomi felt a moment of clarity. Was that what this was all about? Haji!? While she did find him extremely attractive-sexy as she fondly put it, she was not his woman. How she wished she could be his woman, he was a bit blunt and stoic but that intrigued her even more than turning her off to the idea. "I'm not..." She gasped. "His woman..."
"I know you're lying..." Cho released his grip from her throat, just as Hitomi took a breath he shoved the rice ball into her mouth pressing it against her face and nose spilling some of the white pelts to the ground. Hitomi seethed in fury, smacking his hand away from her mouth. "You are his woman! And, once I make you mine and take you away from him I'm going to cut your throat and leave your corpse there as a reminder for him."
Hitomi still blushing from her breath being cut off barely chewed what half of the rice ball was forced into her mouth and swallowed it briskly. "I told you I'm not eating anything!" She shouted at him, kicking at the dirt by her feet. "Especially if it is being manhandled by your filthy hands-" She was cut off, as Cho tired of hearing her rebel against him shoved two rice balls into her mouth, pressing them down with his finger. The stupid bitch was going to eat, she'd have no uses if she became ill. Hitomi gripped his wrist, and with as much force as she could muster from her cramping jaws, bit his hand. Cho roared in shock and pain, smacking her across the side of the face, knocking her to the floor.
"You bitch! You just bit my hand!" Cho seethed in rage.
"Damn right I did!" Hitomi snapped back, forgetting about her fear for a moment. "Keep your filthy hands away from and out of my mouth!"
"You've sealed your fate!" Cho yelled, slamming his head against the wooden bars rattling them. Hitomi stepped back from him catching the deranged look in his eyes. If looks could kill she'd be lying dead on the ground right now. "You pompous noble. You have five hours to enjoy the rest of your miserable life, once five hours is over. You. Will. Die." He growled stalking away from her prison.
Hitomi frowned, running up to the bars, and against a better choice start hammering away at the restrictions splitting and peeling her skin. Finally she stopped when a sharp pain shot through her hand making her cry out in agony. "You... You won't get away with this!" She yelled to Cho's retreating figure.
"On the contrary Hitomi..." Cho turned back, grinning darkly showing all of his teeth, licking his lips. "I have got away with this. And, I will get away with this." He narrowed his dark eyes. "But, before you die I am going to take the one you cling to so tightly..." He chuckled seeing fear take a firm grip of Hitomi.
"No!" Hitomi yelled, eyes pleading. "Don't do that! Just kill me, kill me now!"
"I'm calling the shots." Cho leered at her. "You have five hours. Go ahead and throw a tantrum, it's not going to change the end result."
"You!" Hitomi seethed in fury. It was one thing to be killed. But, for her to be killed with no dignity left in tact it was the worse thing possible! "I hate you!"
Her only answer was silence as Cho slammed the door shut to her confines, darkening the entire room once again.
"You are positive?" Tobirama asked with narrowed eyes, arms folded across his chest as he gave Hesui and Toka a hard look. "You're sure it was Madara and Mikito?"
"I am certain." Toka answered, bowing her head slightly.
"I'll never forget that woman's face." Hesui said with a dark expression. "I am more than certain it was Mikito."
Syrus visibly tensed, his fists clenching until his knuckles cracked. He was intent on listening to Tobirama question the two, but when he heard what they discovered... "Hesui, you are one hundred percent sure it was Mikito?" He narrowed his eyes leveling a hard look with Hesui.
"He isn't one to lie." Haji interjected. "Just answer this, was Souji there?"
"No, but Shin, I believe is..."
"Figures..." Haji said lowly.
Hashirama having stayed silent the entire time spoke up. "Maybe we could..."
"Brother..." Tobirama growled in warning, Hashirama instantly shut up starting to sulk. "We're going to prepare for battle... Madara will be on the war path I know that for a fact." He turned to Syrus and Haji, the eldest looking slightly tense while Haji seemed to be calculating something. He would handle Izuna, but he had no idea what to expect from Mikito or her clan. They allied themselves with the Uchiha so they had to be just as bad if not worse than those bloodthirsty shinobi. "Syrus. Haji. You know the Domou clan and Mikito, what should we be expecting?" If he could devise a plan he could focus on Izuna, while Hashirama handled Madara.
"Mmm..." Syrus hummed softly, his expression darkening. "Mikito is as swift as wind and has the strength to move mountains. The Domou are immensely powerful." He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. "She is also well versed in ninjutsu, but like I said that's not where her strength lies, while it is nothing to scoff at, her true prowess shines in taijutsu and kenjutsu. There have been dozens of prodigies in those two areas, though they are well adept with ninjutsu." He sighed softly, opening his eyes. "Just like us-every member is trained at the age of three..." He recalled his own regimen which left him face down in the dirt gasping for oxygen.
"So..." Tobirama scowled. "Great strength and speed... And second to none taijutsu and kenjutsu." He turned his gaze solely onto Syrus.
"In a nutshell without painstaking details. Yes." Syrus nodded. "However, I will fight her."
Tobirama nodded. Finding nothing wrong with the course of action.
"I'll handle Shin." Haji cut in with a stoic expression. "He is as versatile as he is talented."
"I guess..." Hashirama hesitated for a moment to agree. He'd fight to protect his clan and brother, but he wished there were another way. "We should move out when the sun begins to set."
"Good strategy as any." Syrus nodded. "We're all clear?" After a chorus of nods he allowed his lips to turn up slightly.
Tobirama looked stern. "We'll leave in four hours."
With no arguments or objections everyone nodded.